- As I've mentioned in class, my participants have drawn attention to their inability to understand their professors. They've said that even though they speak English, the speed and complexity of many professors' speech makes it impossible to understand. Because of this they feel that they are left behind in lecture and section. They do not have an understanding of the material equivalent to that of native English-speaking students. When I asked if any of them have shared their concerns with a professor, no one said he/she had.
A problem like does not have an obvious solution. The professors cannot necessarily adjust the speed of their lectures because there is a certain amount of material they must cover over the course of the semester. However, there are a few things that may help.
1. Sweetland could increase the breadth of their outreach for the Chat Cafe program. Giving these students the opportunity to improve their English, both speaking and listening, would help improve their understanding in class.
2. Professors could be encouraged to use lecture slides to accompany their speech. These slides should be required to be posted to Canvas following lecture. This way students can review the material covered in class on their own, at their own speeds.
3. As facilitators, we can help our participants build their confidence, encouraging them to approach their professors in order to devise a suitable solution. These confrontational scenarios are difficult, especially when there is a language barrier of any level. If we could offer them an opportunity to script how they would approach their professors, perhaps the anxiety associated with these confrontations could be lessened.
Hey Anna,
ReplyDeleteYou're right, this is a major problem for students within the Chat Cafe sessions. The fact that they have to adjust to this new language in a multitude of classes is something that very few native english speakers could even begin to empathize with in the United States. It's like taking a foreign language class for a multitude of subjects; the thought alone would be nightmarish. With regards to the solutions you pose, I particularly enjoy the third one to an extent. While I would much rather not help compose a script for the Chat Cafe participants (seems too unnatural), it would be a good idea to have them practice how they would approach the professors with their problems and concerns. While it would not necessarily make the problem vanish overnight, it would help create some concrete steps that will eventually decrease the prevalence of this problem to a far larger extent.
Hi Anna!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions for such a huge issue, and you have a good point in bringing it up at all. I defintiely ca udnerstand the hesitation in approaching the prof, too; I speak English and still rarely go to office hours when I need help. I wonder if the university has ever thought about recording lectures for students to review at their own pace as well-- I think that might help international students quite a bit, too. I'm glad you brought up what we as facilitators can do to help, as well, especially in terms of something as simple but necessary as building confidence.